We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Courtney Eidson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Courtney below.

Courtney, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

The biggest risk I have taken was opening Trailhead Community Farm School, a nonprofit therapeutic academic day program. As I am not a teacher or school administrator, the prospect of building an educational program was daunting. However, my background as a clinical social worker, with experience in various settings from residential placements to private practice, made me aware of the significant need for a therapeutic academic day program for neurodiverse students, particularly middle and high school students with Autism and/or ADHD, as well as the lack of support for their families.

I consistently witnessed the effects of insufficient support, which often resulted in children being placed outside the home. While I understand that such interventions can be necessary at times, I felt that they should not be the only solution. As a social worker, I believe it is my responsibility to empower individuals and seek solutions to social issues. The emotions I observed in the children and families I worked with—stemming from stress related to school, misunderstandings from community members, and the challenges of navigating the world as a neurodivergent child or as a parent of that child—compelled me to take the risk and establish Trailhead Community Farm School.

We hosted our first Community Meeting in July 2022, and 40 to 50 guests attended! It was clear that I was not alone in recognizing the need for this program. In August, we formed our Founding Board of Directors. Trailhead Community Farm School officially opened in September 2023 with two students. By December of that year, we were still at two students, and there was concern about the program’s viability. However, a year later, we have 13 students enrolled!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a clinical social worker with extensive experience working with clients aged 10 to 65 who are diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, and Anxiety. I earned my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. During my graduate internship, I was introduced to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and developed a deeper understanding of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). I became captivated by this population and have since focused on understanding evidence-based interventions for neurodivergent individuals and how to best support the neurodivergent community.

In creating Trailhead Community Farm School, my primary goal was to establish a safe space for students facing challenges in social interactions, behavioral difficulties, and communication needs. These challenges have often led to experiences of bullying, misunderstanding from school personnel, and struggles for parents and guardians. I aimed for a holistic approach that highlighted each child’s and family’s strengths and incorporated those strengths into an academic and clinical setting, while also providing opportunities for outdoor adventure and community engagement.

In addition to supporting and educating our students and families, we offer monthly virtual events and quarterly Family Summits that are open to the community. My goal is to extend support to as many people as possible, especially through virtual platforms. Each month, we host a virtual Lunch and Learn session, along with a support group for parents and guardians. Our quarterly Family Summit includes a family activity, a presentation for parents and family members, activities for children, and an in-person support group for parents and guardians.

I take great pride in fulfilling our commitment to provide a safe space for students who have faced difficulties succeeding elsewhere, while also supporting our families and the broader community. I can see the positive impact our program is making.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

I cannot envision pursuing any career other than Social Work. I have had numerous opportunities to work with and learn from incredible individuals, helping others improve their lives, reunite families, and collaborate with various teams. Each experience has taught me so much. I feel honored to be a Social Worker and to continue the important work established by those who came before me.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

During my undergraduate studies, I flunked out of school. However, my failure wasn’t due to partying or a lack of studying; it stemmed from my inability to ask for help. My professors would have gone above and beyond to support my success, but I didn’t know how to advocate for myself and felt embarrassed to reach out for assistance. Consequently, I felt like a failure and gave up on earning a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication.

As I tried to decide on my next steps in life, my parents arranged a career counseling session for me. Surprisingly, my top match was for an FBI agent, while my second was for Social Work—a field I had never heard of before. When I read the description, I was amazed to discover such a career existed! Among the colleges and universities that offered Social Work, Winthrop University was on the list.

The following Fall semester, I returned to Winthrop University. This time, I made it a point to ask for help when I needed it, and as I had anticipated, my professors welcomed my requests and helped set me up for success. A few semesters later, I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Social Work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.trailheadcfs.org
• Instagram: @trailheadcfs
• Facebook: Trailhead Community Farm School